Ghost World (2001)
Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi; d. Terry Zwigoff; B+

For one of 2001's most critically salivated-over films, I have shamefully little to say about Ghost World. Oh, I acknowledge the fact that it's a well-done movie, with nary a flaw in sight, and that it's got a very good cast and a nice script; but in spite of all of these wonderful, wonderful achievements I found myself not as moved as I'd like to be.

Ghost World is based on a comic book and looks like a comic book. And because it's so much like a comic book it's hard to really relate. I do see myself in those two girls, Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), since I myself am a high school senior with an unsure future. I do see myself in Enid, with Enid's inability to connect with other people. In fact Ghost World seems to be that odd combination of my fantasy and my reality. But why oh why does it all seem so artificial to me if a lot of it rings true?

Ay, there's the rub: The visuals. As I said, it looks like a comic book, thus it comes off as a - strangely odd - moving comic book. It's like watching an adaptation of a play that looks like a filmed play. Why watch the movie when you can just see the play - or read the comic book? There were moments when, watching the meticulously crafted and positioned frames, that I could just see dialogue bubbles popping out from the mouths of the characters. In real life, dialogue bubbles really don't pop out of the mouths of people; unless, of course, you're crazy.

Despite all of this visual artificiality, Ghost World is one of the superior teen films of our day. It's quite a step up from these graduation movies in which teenagers embark on nation-wide road trips, get drunk, have sex, and sometimes kill an unsuspecting old man, all without questioning things about their maturity and their future. It's also quite a step up from these films which claim they focus on teenagers who are "different," when in reality these quirky teenagers are played by beautiful, perfect actors (in the physical sense) in this month's American Pie catalogue. Enid and Rebecca really are those punk kids who keep to themselves and secretly (or outwardly) mock the society in which they live in, while at the same time struggle with the world outside of high school.

Again what really struck me was the likeness these two had to real high school students - Me, and people I know. Rebecca is a great representative of all of those students who have it all planned out, whether or not they actually seem like they have a future ahead of them. Enid is for those who fear the world outside of high school. They're used to living in protective institutions that meet them halfway. That's why we see Enid in school and at home and not Rebecca, who we see at work. Enid can't work because she cannot take responsibility; these institutions don't require personal responsibility much.

These parts are played beautifully by their respective actors. Birch is the perfect anti-Hollywood teenager. She's not pencil thin (thank goodness she and Johansson have curves!) nor does she have looks straight out of Victoria's Secret. Thus she's perfect for Enid. As Enid she's loud, crude, rude, and selfish. If you can't relate she makes you hate her, which is the way it should be. She makes Enid's inability to connect clear by the way she talks, walks, and sits. In essence she's a brat who thinks of herself higher than that title. Johansson in response is the perfect second-fiddle. By placing the understated Johansson next to Birch we see just how irresponsible Enid is and how ideal Rebecca is.

And though he nor his character are teenagers, there just has to be something said about Steve Buscemi's performance as Seymour, the lonely middle-aged man who befriends Enid. Buscemi is shy but not overstated, thankfully. He's capable of making a completely sympathetic character without turning him into a caricature. Clearly this was one of last year's best supporting performances which unfortunately was overlooked by many of the major awards. He is the shining star in Ghost World's mostly solid supporting cast.

...so maybe I actually did have something to say about Ghost World after all.

© Vert A Go Go Reviews 2002